Test identifies the really smart

Saturday

Oct 27, 2007 at 2:00 AM

Marlboro — Are you brilliant?

Deborah Medenbach

Marlboro — Are you brilliant?

The Mid-Hudson chapter of American Mensa held its annual testing day last Saturday at the Marlboro Library on Route 9W. The high-IQ organization accepts for membership those scoring in the top 2 percent of a standardized intelligence test.

Those attending the afternoon session included a 14-year-old girl hoping admission would look good on college applications, a few older people, and one brightly dressed woman with a passion for puzzles.

Test proctor Jim Jelacic said the local test usually brings out about 10 people each year for evaluation. Of those, 60 percent will pass the admissions test.

"It's a self-selecting group. They already know they're smart before they even sit down for the test," Jelacic said.

Like getting some coffee into long-slumbering Rip Van Winkle, the first few test questions winnow out ability to follow simple directions and make logical choices within a set amount of time. The test questions become increasingly more difficult and cover language, logic, spatial relationships, memory and mathematical skills.

Jelacic has been a member for 20 years and admitted he first took the test when an annoying co-worker boasted he was a "card-carrying genius." As an electrical engineer and programmer, Jelacic correctly guessed he'd be able to one-up the guy by passing the test himself. He's been proctoring the annual test now for 17 years.

Why become a member?

"It's the people. You meet people from all over," Jelacic said.

The organization was formed in England in 1946 by two lawyers who wanted to create a social club consisting only of people of high intelligence. American Mensa was started with seven people in Brooklyn in 1960 and now has 54,000 members.

"All you have to do is score high one time in your life in a standardized intelligence test. The youngest member is 3 years old. The oldest Mensan is 103," Jelacic said.

About two dozen Mid-Hudson Mensa members actively participate in the local dinner meetings and cultural programs, though membership is at more than 200. Regional gatherings are offered around the country throughout the year.

Miss the test but want to join?

American Mensa accepts a variety of standardized intelligence tests in evaluating potential members. Go to their Web site to learn more: www.us.mensa.org.

Working the bell curve:

Reporter tests her wits

Mensa has a cheeky challenge at the top of its test announcement each year. Members of the media are invited to take the Mensa test for free.

I always did well in school and am a creative problem solver. What harm could taking a little test do?

Well, first, it brings up test anxiety. I immediately went to the Web and tried sample questions in a variety of intelligence tests to see if the cogs in my brain needed oiling. When it came to algebraic formulas, I was as mystified as I'd ever been, but when it came to words, logic and memory, it was a breeze.

The fact is, there really isn't a way to prepare for a Mensa test. Either you can think or you can't.

The actual Mensa testing process is clear and simple. Progressively more difficult questions are asked in seven sections.

I found the logic and relationship questions easy at first look, but possibly tricky. Jelacic said people often second-guess themselves in these parts, erasing previous answers. I only got halfway through the math section, but will be scored only on the questions answered correctly. The final sections on language and memory were so easy I finished before the time was up.

The tests are not scored on-site. They are sent to national Mensa headquarters in Texas for evaluation. Genius? Remains to be seen. The interesting part is being in a room full of quick minds and seeing how they choose to apply their IQ. That's why Mensa was started in the first place.

Deborah Medenbach

Times Herald-Record/DEBORAH MEDENBACH

Mensa testers prepare for the start of the intelligence test at Marlboro Library that will determine eligibility for the high-IQ club.

Times Herald-Record/DEBORAH MEDENBACH

Proctor Jim Jelacic said about 10 people attend the local chapter's National Testing Day event each year.